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Bayern stick two fingers up to United, sign Hummels

Bayern Munich have quickly followed up the signing of Renato Sanches by agreeing the €38million transfer of Mats Hummels from Borussia Dortmund.

Bayern announced that they had reached a deal to sign Benfica midfielder Sanches, 18, just before Tuesday lunchtime.

The Portuguese will cost an initial €35million, with further add-ons expected to take the deal to around €80m.

Soon after Sanches’ signing, Borussia Dortmund announced that a deal had been struck for fellow Manchester United target Hummels to join Bayern in the summer.

Hummels, 27, had one year remaining on his contract at the Allianz Arena, but will join Bundesliga giants Bayern for €38m.

Hummels made the switch from Bayern to Dortmund in 2008 having made only one first-team appearance for the Bavarian side, and has since established himself as a key man for club and country.

“We’re delighted that Mats Hummels has decided to join Bayern,” said Bayern’s chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge on his club’s website.

“Mats is one of the best central defenders in the world and we’re able to improve the quality of our team even further with him.”

Hummels had informed Dortmund recently of his desire to leave them this summer, a year before his contract in Westphalia was due to expire, and return to Munich.

But he told the club’s website: “This was not an easy decision for me after eight and a half successful years with BVB.

“I was always proud and still am to wear the BVB shirt and to be part of this extraordinary team.”

Hummels’ current and future employers meet in the final of the DFB-Pokal on May 21 and he stressed he remains committed to Dortmund.

“Before I return to my home city in the summer, we still have the huge, mutual goal of bringing the DFB-Pokal back to Dortmund and celebrating a huge festival of football with the BVB fans,” he said.

“I and my team-mates will give everything for that.”

Hummels follows Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze in leaving Dortmund for Bayern in recent seasons.

“Mats Hummels has decided after long, intense reflections to return to his native Munich eight and a half years after his move to BVB,” said Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke. “I want to emphasize that he has at all times behaved openly and fairly towards us.

“Mats represents two German championships with BVB and the Double in 2012, he reached the 2013 final of the Champions League with us and with Dortmund in 2014 won the World Cup.

“We respect Mats’ decision and wish for him and the BVB that he earns the recognition he deserves during his last weeks and Dortmund leaves with the DFB Cup in his hands.”